WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders was in a sarcastic mood during his appearance on DAZN’s Ak and Barak show on March 5.
The 31-year-old southpaw was discussing his upcoming fight with Canelo Alvarez on May 8 where the winner will go home with three of the four world titles available.
As things stand, we are under nine weeks out from the biggest fight of the Londoner’s career, and he was asked by the hosts if he thought he had enough time to prepare for such a challenge.
“I don’t have enough time,” he responded. “I’m just going to go there, pick a cheque up and go home.
“I think everyone knows I need to be at my best but I’m pushing for time now. [I’ve had] ten days off training. I’ve got the flu, I’m not in shape, I’m still heavy, I’ve still not started camp properly yet. It’s going to be a walk in the park for Canelo. He said he’s going to knock me out in three rounds so it’s going to be a nice early night. Might have to get a Five Guys afterwards. In and out for me.”
While other media outlets appeared to have not grasped Saunders’ sense of humour on the topic it’s clear that his answer was not one to take seriously.
As is always the case in boxing we are already looking beyond one of the year’s biggest match ups. Caleb Plant, the IBF champion at 168lbs, is waiting in the wings for the winner on May 8 and ‘Sweet Hands’ has already predicted Canelo to deliver the goods. Whoever emerges victorious will have the chance to become the division’s first ever undisputed champion. Saunders gave his thoughts on Plant and why he doesn’t look beyond his next fight.
“I think Caleb Plant is a good fighter to be honest. I like Caleb Plant. I think he’s got a good style.”
“I don’t look past any of my fights, that’s where a lot of people go wrong. I see [Plant] his name mentioned a lot with Canelo about unifying but Canelo has a job in hand with me first and you’re only as good as your last performance. My last performance was against Martin Murray. Is that good enough to beat Canelo? Probably not. Can’t go too much on Canelo’s last performance because the guy [Yildirim] jacked it after three rounds. It was embarrassing to be honest.”